Body for vehicles, especially railway cars



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w. B. DEAN BODY FOR VEHICLES, ESPECIALLY RAILWAY CARS HIII II IHHIH FICIL April 18, 1950 Filed March 2, 1945 INVENTOR Walter 5. Dean v AZTORNEY mmwn mhamuux.

Aprii 18, 1950 w. B. DEAN 'BODY FOR VEHICLES, ESPECIALLY RAILWAY CARS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 2, 1945 INV Walter B. Dean BY 0444 2a I ATTORNEY W. B. DEAN BODY FOR VEHICLES, ESPECIALLY RAILWAY CARS Filed March 2, 1945 April 18, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 55 I l "I ",8

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llllmllmlunlmlm 1 N V EN TOR Walt er [5. Dean.

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lllllllllliil I l l A TTORNE Y Patented Apr. 18, 1950 BODY FOR VEHICLES, ESPECIALLY RAILWAY CARS Walter B. Dean, Narberth, Pa., assignor to The,

Budd Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 2, 1945, Serial No. 580,646

11 Claims. 1

The invention relates to vehicle bodies, such as railway car bodies, and more particularly to the joint between the body underframe unit and the side wall units.

Among the objects of the invention is a construction the component parts of which are easy to manufacture, which is light in weight, which results in a, strong connection between side walls and underframe, and in which the final assembly between underframe unit and side wall units may be easily and speedily made mostly by means of spot welds.

Among the features of the invention is a vehicle construction having an underframe unit provided along its longitudinal margins with side sills or rails presenting each an inwardly and downwardly facing angle in cross-section, and having side wall units provided along their lower margins below vertical posts with an angleor Z-section sill or rail adapted to be nested over the respective angle-section rail of the underframe so that the overlapping walls of both rails may be secured together. Other features of the invention consist in means, such as plates or brackets, secured to upright transverse webs of the underframe and secured also to the lower portion of the side wall units in the interior of the body.

The hereinbefore outlined and other objects, advantages and features of the invention as well as the details thereof will be more easily understood from the embodiments illustrated in the attached drawings and described in the follow- In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of one end of a railway car body showing the location of one of the bolster beams, of a needle beam and of the center sill;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary section on a larger scale through the connection between the underframe unit and the side wall taken in one of the regions of the car indicated by lines 22 of Figures 1 and 3;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section and side elevation of the underframe and side wall connection viewed in the directions of the arrows on section line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 3a is a local section along line 3a3a of Figure 2, showing one floor element and insulation material therein;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view partly in section taken along line 44 of Figure 3 and showing on a larger scale the region enclosed by the dot-and-dash line 4 in Figure 1;

Figures 5 and 6 are views similar to those of Figures 3 and 4, Figure 5 being a section along line 55 of Figure 1 at a location of the car where there is a different relative position between the transverse fioor members and one of the side wall posts than in Figures 2 to 4, and Figure 6 being a section along line 66 of Figure 5 and a plan view of the region surrounded by the dot-and-dash line 6 of Figure 1 on a larger scale;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the brackets shownin Figures 2 to 6 for reinforcing the connection between the underframe and side Wall;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary section through the connection between side wall and underframe according to another embodiment of the invention, the section being taken at a location of the body indicated by line 8-8 of Figure 1 and along line 8-8 of Figures 9 and 10;

Figure 9 is a, fragmentary elevational section taken along and viewed in the direction of the arrows on line 9-9 of Figures 1, 8 and 10;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary plan view partly in section alongline l 9-4 0 of Figure 9 and showing on a larger scale the region of the body surrounded by the dot-and-dash line [0 in'Figure 1; and

Figure 11 is a perspective view of one of the reinforcing members at the connection between underframe and side wall as shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10.

The general construction of the body of all illustrated embodiments has in common an underframe comprising a longitudinal center sill 20 with which are connected bolster beams 2 l, needle beams 22 and other not illustrated cross members.

Arranged on top of and connected with the center sill 20 is a shear panel in the form of transverse floor pans 23. The floorpans are upwardly facing channels or angles having a bottom wall or arm 24, side wallsvor webs 25 and flanges 25 along the upper margins of the side walls. The floor pans 23 abut each other with their sidewalls 25 and. the adjoining side walls are connected with each other, such as by spot welding. This results in a shear panel which, owing to the upwardly directed side walls webs or arms 25 and the flanges 26, has great rigidity and constitutes a continuous cross beam extending over the entire width and over the entire or at least over a large part of the length of the car.

Ribs or webs 21 extending in the longitudinal direction of the pans and provided in the bottom wardly facing channel section having a vertically arranged bottom wall 62, an upper side wall 63 and a lower side wall 64, the latter being continued by downwardly and inwardly extending webs or flanges 65, 66. The channel-section portion 62, 63, 64 is of such width as to telescopingly receive and embrace the outer ends of the floor pans 23. The ends of pans 23 may, for this purpose, be slightly reduced in height, such as by joggling of the flanges 26, as appears clearly from Figures 8 and 9. The aforesaid plate 60 and the flanges 59 of the needle beam are secured to the Web 65 of the side sill 6|. The bottom wall 58 and the flanges 51 of the side walls of the needle beam overlap with their outer ends the flange 66 of the side sill and are connected thereto, such as by spot welding.

The specific features described in the preceding two paragraphs do not constitute part of the instant invention but of the invention claimed in the simultaneously filed application, Serial No. 580,647, Body construction especially for rail cars of R. J. Theriault.

The upper arm 50 of the side wall sill 49 is I provided with an inwardly extending flange 61 to which one arm of the angle-section strip 55 is welded whereas the other arm of the latter is secured directly to the flanges 48 of the side wall posts 45. The connection between the post 45 and web 5| of the side sill 49 is strengthened by a member 68 of U-shape in horizontal and L shape in vertical section. The U section is secured with its arms to the side walls 41 and with its middle portion to the bottom wall 46 of the post 45 whereas the lower arm of the L-section is secured to the web 5| of the side sill 49.

The connection between the ends of the floor pans 23 and the underframe side sill BI and thereby the connection between the underframe and side wall is reinforced by members 69 telescoped into and connected with the ends of the floor pans. The members 69, one of which is separately shown in Figure 11, have a web which in transverse vertical section (Figure 8) has approximately the form of a lying l with an outer vertically arranged portion or arm 10 adjoined by a horizontal portion H, which latter is continued by an inclined portion 12, and ending in a substantially horizontal portion 13. The side margins of the portions 10, H and 12 have their lateral margins interconnected by transversely extending vertical web portions M.

The members 66 are slid into the ends cf the floor pans 23 which have their bottom walls 24 at the ends cut out as indicated by lines 15. The portion 13 of the member 69 is provided with beads 13 corresponding to and fitting over the beads or ridges 2'! of the floor pans. The side margins of the web portion H are downwardly offset at 16 so that they underlie the flanges 26 of the respective floor pan 23 whereas the middle portion is at the same level as the flanges. The web portions 16, H and the flanges 26 rest against and are welded respectively to the inside of the arms 62, 63 of the side sill 6| whereas the arms or webs l4 and the inner end of the web portion 13 overlap and are welded to the side walls 25 and the bottom wall 24, respectively, of the floor pan.

In the illustrated embodiment, one ofsaid reinforcing pieces 69 is provided for each floor pan on the sides of the needle beam and post location. A gusset plate 53 extends continuously across the post 45 and across the ends of both the floor pans 23 provided with the members 69. Here again, the brackets 69 connected with the side walls of the floor pans greatly contribute to the strength of the connection between underframe and side wall, especially in the region of a post.

The connection between side wall and underframe is in Figures 8 to 10 substantially the same as described for the first embodiment except that in the second embodiment plate 66 of the underframe is welded to the arm 56 of the side wall sill 49.

An additional reinforcement may be provided by a horizontal plate I! which overlies and is secured to the flanges 26 of the floor pans and extends close to the outer wall 62 of the side sill. This plate 11, which after final assembly lies between the arms 63 and 5| of the sills 6| and 49, may be a continuous web extending over a considerable part or the entire length of the car. On the other hand, the plate or plates 11 may be used for local reinforcement in the region of the posts and may extend only over floor pans adjacent the post, which floor pans are provided with the reinforcing members 69. The plate 11 is cut out at the location of the needle beam so as to make room for the passage of the plate 66.

Also in connection with this embodiment, it should be noted that any desired number of members 69 may be provided. That is, such members may be arranged at the location of great stress, they may be distributed over the entire length of the body, or they may even be provided in each one of the floor pans. Still further, the second embodiment of reinforcing members may be used in connection with diiferent floor'constructions as outlined in connection with the first embodiment, or the two types of reinforcements may be used in one and the same body.

All the floor pans and also the needle beams may house insulating material. Floor boards, seat supporting rails etcetera (not shown) are supported by the flanges 25 of the floor pans. The entire disclosed structure consists of sheet metaL'preferabIy cold-rolled high-tensile stainless steel. The connection between the component parts is preferably made throughout by electric spot welding as indicated by asterisks or by dots at the interfaces.

The attached claims are intended to cover the specifically described embodiments as well as all such modifications and adaptations falling within the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a vehicle body such as a railway car body,

an underframe unit and a side wall unit each 55.

comprising frame members extending transversely to the longitudinal extent of the unit, the transverse frame members of said underframe unit being provided along their ends on each side of the body with a side sill having an upper inwardly extending arm overlying and secured to the upper side and a downwardly extending outer arm overlying the outer ends of the transverse underframe members, said side wall unit comprising an angle-section side sill having a horizontal arm underlying the lower ends of said transverse frame members of the side wall unit and an outer downwardly depending arm, said sill of the side wall unit nesting with its said arms over the said arms of the underframe sill and being secured thereto.

2. In a body for vehicles such as railway cars, an underframe unit and a side wall unit joined together along their meeting edges, said underframe unit having transversely extending members with a generally horizontal wall and a genf1 srall-y wertical web, :a :sill::of tangle-section ,iaoing iand downwardly hayin one ofeit arms arranged 30121 taper land the other downwardly extending arm arranged at the end of said1-tra-nsverse. members, said side "wall unit having a zesectionzsill.;and1upright zposts with longitudinalextending webs {or flanges alon their in 'margins', :sadd sill having its web arranged beneath the posts, "one upwardly directed arm arranged n the inside of said inner webs or flanges :ofithe posts and connected thereto and the other arm. extended-downwardly zand rran ed 'm the region oi. the outer face of the 111 id 'W andsdownwardly extending arm :of the side wall unitiheing1nestedroverwand secured 'to the arms (of the 'sidez'sill of the underframe unit in final assembly so that "the ends of the :posts are arranged over ithe end-s zof the transverse members {of :the undeicframe unit.

53:1Tzlnderstrncture'iorwehicle bodies compriszingtran'sverse floor members having horizontal iwall'seandtransverselyaextendingvertical webs, an

kanglesection side isill havingan upper sinwardly extending arm secured on top (of the transverse members and :an outer downwardly extending imme-arranged ion the outside .-:of the ends of and reinforcing .cmember at the router longitudinal -:margin of the 3fi001' pan, said member having lu -"shape in longitudinal vertical section, being connected by the arms :of the U .in overlapping relation {to two consecutive ones of .said webs, and

having its bottom .wall vspaced from said shear I panel so that the shear panel and said bottom wall offer together 'two ,ver'tically spaced surfaces for the attachment of means adapted for reindorcing the connection of the floor pan with a .bodyside wall.

5. In a body according Itocla'im d, said member having a vertical wall or flange at its .outer end adapted for the connection to a vertical wall of a side sill.

6'. In a .body according to "claim '4,"the bottom wall of saidmemberhaving its inner portion ofisatin vertical direction and brought "into overlapping relationjto said'she'ar web panel'to which it issecured.

'1. In "a lvehicle floor, .a jnanel or sheet material suchasisheetvmetal provided with upwardly projectin'ggreinforcing webs, a plurality of "beads ;formedibetween consecutive .websas integral onepiece portions of the panel, said beads being spaced. from each other and from saidfweblsland :projecting upwardly iroin the panel thereby. pre- ;sentingsupports 1for,. insulation material arranged Ibetweensaid. reinforcing webs.

'8. .In a vehicle underframe, a floorcomprising upwardly facing channelslhaving'vtheir side walls connected to each o her p a dl p ojec in ibeads ,=formed n the bottom walls :of the channel and extending at a-distance from-each-other-and from said side walls :in the longitudinal direction .of the channels, insulating :material supported by :said beads Eat a distance from the bottom Walls of the channels in the space between the side walls thereof. a

9. In :a body :underframe for vehicles such as rail-way cars; -a door panel extending over the width 'of :the iramerandover a major portion of its length; longitudinally spaced transversely extending, generally upright webs reinforcing said floor-panel; a sectionside sill :having an upright wall and a @horizontal ar-m (extending inwardly from the upper marginlof i said upright wall; said wall and arm fitting over the ends of said panel ,and webs and said wall extending downwardly beyond them; and-a bracket :extending vertically :across and upwardly :and downwardly beyond said panel ;.and webs, said bracketbeing secured to the downwardly proj ecting portionl of said side sill wall, and. the upwardly projecting-portionof the bracket being adapted =forsecurement to an adjoiningbodyside wall.

=19. aebody under-frame for vehicles suchas railway cars; a 11001" ipanel extending over the widthnf'the .frame and overa major portion of eitsilength; longitudinally spaced, transversely extending, generally upnig'ht webs reinforcing said ffioor panel; a ,section'side sill having an upright wall and a horizontal arm extending inwardly zirom the nopermar i -o s d upri ht wall; said wall and arm fitting OVY the ends .of said .panel and webs; and-1a bracket extendin upwardly beyond said :panel and :webs and being secured to some of saidwebsthe ,upwardly projecting portion.=of the bracketlbe'ingadaptecl forsecurement xtolanadj,oin ng body side wall.

11. ,Ina bodyiorwehicles, such asrailway-cars, -anlunderframe and a side wallysaid \under'irame comprising afloor panel.exllcndingv over the width ;oi the irame "and over amajcr portion of its length, longitudinallyspaced, transversely exltending generally vertical webs reinforcing said 'ffloor panel, and a section side sill having an upright web and a horizontal arm extending inwardly from the upper margin ofsaid upright .web, said vlast named web and arm fitting over .the ends of .said panelianddts webs, and. said side sill .web.extenclingdownwardly beyond them; said side wall'beingvlocatedyon top of said arm; and a bracket, extending verticallyacross and upwardly and downwardlyibeyond said panel and its vwebs, .said "bracket being secured to the downwardlyproiecting portionoisaid. s d vsill web, a th upwardly projectin portion of the bra m heirl g secured to the inner surface -.of said side wall WALTER Y B. DEAN.

R-EFERENCES CITED .The following rreierences :are .of record in the .filefiof this patent:

STAT-HIS PATENT Number Name Date 723,067 summers h :Mar. 17, 1903 1,'090;'174 Sullivan et'al 'Mar. 17, 1914 2,101,557 Musseyetal. Dec. 7, 1937 2,222 ;335 Dietrich V Nov. 19,1940 

